I don’t post more often because I like to put most of my ideas into action instead. I am a woman of big ideas, a connector, and I try to enact as many as possible, as quickly and as well as I can. I don’t like a good idea to die on the vine. A lot of these big ideas involve connecting the real world with the online world. The value of social media to people and businesses is in the connectivity it brings, and the doors that opens. This means I believe just as much in the value of face time as I do in the value of online time, and I try to instill that belief in others by building powerful real life networks.

I’ve been putting these thoughts into practice with Social Media Breakfast NH, Podcamp NH, in-person relationship building, client coaching and strategizing, writing books to make the concept easier for others like Twitter for Dummies (co-author with Laura Fitton and Michael Gruen), investigating co-working spaces like the upcoming Port Forward, real life networking whenever possible at events like NH and Boston Media Makers, local off-web events like Chamber meetings or last night’s Extreme Website Makeover event, one-on-one time with my colleagues and friends whose minds inspire me, and more. There is something about translating connections between the tangible and the intangible that makes the ideas much more vibrant and that makes the connection adhere more fully.

How is face time important for your business? Simple: it brings the human element into your brand. You can attempt to engage people online until you are blue in the face. You can throw money and resources at social media until you go broke. But if you can’t translate that rapport and effort into time off the screen somehow, you’re missing a key component to your overall social media and business development strategy. It’s not your 100 or 100,000 or more followers on various platforms that counts, it’s the number that come to your movie, attend your event, support your cause in person, talk about you to their friends, go to your concert, use your service in their homes or businesses, drink your wine in real life… you get the idea.

Never underestimate the value of face time. How do you employ face time in your business or life?

For those unfamiliar with the concept, the New Hampshire meetings are held at Crackskulls in Newmarket. Newmarket is under construction, so parking is both strange and scarce right now. Don’t panic. Bring your towel. If you drive past the coffee house you will see a parking lot on your left you can use, then just walk back down the hill. The coffee house has limited seating, but makes up for it with WiFi and good company.

There is a meet and greet session at the beginning of the morning, from about 10:00 until 10:30. Mingle! Bring business cards or slips of paper to write on, or your smart phone, laptop or camera to take photos and notes. At 10:30 everyone settles down to talk about what they are doing, what they want to be doing and share ideas and help. It’s a great time, and everyone has three minutes to talk about projects or events.

If I can go I’ll be talking about my upcoming BlitzCall, the next Topics on Fire podcast and my need for educators using social media and technology in the classroom on the panel, my new writing gig at Mashable (they are giving me a forum for my pet topic social media for social change in the real world), my upcoming Mac podcast for my gig at Blorge, a new feature of my company Uptown Uncorked where I am offering individual mentoring on using social media (just like my classes, but for individuals who thrive better one on one), and more. Heck, if John‘s dad Jack is there and I can get there I’d thank him for doing my generation gap podcast – he was outstanding. The audience loved him. I’d also show off my HTC Mogul’s new ability to take Qik videos – thanks to the folks at Qik for letting me beta test the program for my phone model.

On a side note: there are photos and videos. Lots and lots and lots. If you are not comfortable being online, sit in the back. I will say that the guys are usually pretty understanding – if a photo of you gives you heart palpitations online, they will swap it out for a better photo of you from the same meeting, but… a photo or video of you will be posted somewhere, at some point, at this meeting. It’s easier to just deal with it. You’ll have a better time.

Maybe I’ll see you there but if not – have fun without me and keep me posted!